How to Do a Legal Change of Name in Nigeria

Changing your name legally in Nigeria now centres on a deed poll prepared by a lawyer and publication in the official gazette. An affidavit and newspaper notice alone are no longer treated as enough.

Step by step

1. Instruct a lawyer to prepare a deed pollA deed poll is a formal legal document, prepared by a lawyer, in which you renounce your old name and declare your new one. This is the core instrument for a legal change of name.
2. Swear a supporting affidavitSwear an affidavit of change of name at a High Court registry stating your former and new names. This still commonly accompanies the process, though it is no longer treated as sufficient on its own.
3. Place a newspaper noticePublish a change-of-name notice in a newspaper to give public notice. Keep the newspaper page. This supports the process but does not replace the gazette step.
4. Lodge for gazette publicationSubmit the deed poll, with a cover letter and your identification, to the civil registry or government printer for publication in the official gazette. This is the step that gives the change strong official standing.
5. Collect copies of the gazetteOnce published, obtain several copies of the gazette. Government gazettes are published periodically, so allow time. These copies are what institutions will ask to see.
6. Update your official recordsUse the gazette and deed poll to update your NIN, bank accounts, passport, driver's licence, academic certificates and employer records, one institution at a time.
7. Meet any body-specific rulesCheck whether a professional body or specific institution has its own name-change requirements, such as marriage-related rules, and comply with those separately.

Changing your name legally in Nigeria is more involved than swearing a quick affidavit, and the law on it has tightened. For years, many people assumed that an affidavit of change of name plus a newspaper notice was all that was required. A Supreme Court decision changed that understanding, holding that an affidavit of change of name is not, on its own, a recognised instrument for changing a name. The route now treated as robust is a deed poll prepared by a lawyer, followed by publication in the official gazette. This matters because banks, immigration, examination bodies and employers increasingly expect to see proper documentation before they will update your records. The shift away from the old affidavit-only habit catches many people by surprise, because for years a simple sworn declaration and a newspaper notice were treated as enough. That is no longer a safe assumption, and relying on it can leave you with documents a bank or an immigration office refuses to accept. The more robust path, built around a lawyer-prepared deed poll and publication in the official gazette, takes a little more time and money but produces evidence that institutions recognise and can verify. Because a name touches almost every record you hold, from your identity number to your certificates and bank accounts, it is worth getting the foundation right once rather than repeating the exercise. The sections below explain each step, what it costs, and how to keep the whole process legitimate.

What a legal change of name is

A legal change of name is the formal process of renouncing your former name and adopting a new one in a way that government and institutions will recognise. The central instrument is a deed poll, a formal legal document prepared by a lawyer in which you declare that you are giving up your old name and will henceforth be known by your new name. To give the change public and official standing, the deed poll is lodged for publication in the official gazette, the government’s formal record of such changes. Together, these create a documented trail that institutions can rely on.

Who needs it and eligibility

Anyone who wants to change their name, whether after marriage or divorce, to correct a long-standing error, to adopt a preferred name, or for personal or religious reasons, needs to follow a legal process if they want institutions to accept the change. Adults can do this for themselves, and there are separate considerations for changing a child’s name. There is no special qualification beyond being the person whose name is changing and being able to execute the deed poll and supporting documents. The practical requirement is simply to follow the correct steps so that your new name holds up everywhere it matters.

Documents you need

You will generally need a deed poll prepared by a lawyer, a means of identification, and often a supporting affidavit of change of name sworn at a High Court registry. Many people also place a newspaper notice and keep the published page. For the gazette stage you submit the deed poll together with a cover letter addressed to the appropriate official. It helps to have copies of the records you will later update, such as your NIN, passport and certificates, so you know exactly what needs changing. Keep originals and multiple copies of each document.

Fees and payment

Costs arise at several stages: the lawyer’s fee for the deed poll, the affidavit fee at the court registry, any newspaper charge, and the fee for gazette publication. These vary widely by location, by the office involved, and over time, and published figures differ dramatically from one source to another. For that reason, treat any amount you see online as a rough indication only and confirm the current charges directly with the lawyer, the court registry and the government printer or civil registry. Insist on official receipts, and be cautious of anyone asking for payment into a personal account.

Realistic timeline

A change of name is not instant. Preparing the deed poll and swearing the affidavit can be quick, but the gazette stage depends on the publication schedule of the government printer, and gazettes are published periodically rather than daily. From start to finish you should plan for several weeks, and longer if offices are busy or documents need correcting. Because so many institutions will then need to update your records one by one, the overall transition to your new name across all your documents can take longer still, so begin well before any deadline.

State and office variations

Where you lodge documents and which office publishes the gazette can differ depending on whether your matter is handled federally or within a particular state, and practices at court registries vary. Some people submit through a federal government printer or publication department, while others deal with a state civil registry. There has also been discussion of moving parts of the process online, but you should confirm what is actually available where you are rather than assume a digital route exists. Ask the relevant registry about its exact current procedure before starting.

Common problems and fixes

A frequent mistake is relying on an affidavit alone and later finding an institution will not accept it; the fix is to complete the deed poll and gazette steps. Inconsistent spelling of the old or new name across documents causes rejections, so keep every document consistent. Delays often come from the gazette’s publication cycle, which you cannot rush but can plan around. If an institution still hesitates, present the deed poll and gazette together and ask what specific document they require. For anything unclear, a lawyer can guide you through the correct office.

If an office or portal is unavailable

If a registry is closed, a government printer is slow, or any online component is unavailable, avoid the temptation to use a fixer who promises an instant result. Wait, confirm the correct office and its current procedure, and deal with it directly. Keep your prepared documents ready so you can act as soon as the office is available. If you are told a step can be done online, verify that through an official government channel rather than a link sent by a stranger, since bogus gazette and registry sites are a known fraud.

Verifying the change is genuine

Your evidence of a genuine change is the executed deed poll and the official gazette in which it is published, backed by the court affidavit and newspaper notice where used. Keep several copies of the gazette, because institutions will ask to see it. A real gazette entry can be checked against the government’s records, so a fabricated one will not survive scrutiny when a bank or immigration office verifies it. If anyone offers you a shortcut that skips the gazette, treat the resulting documents as unreliable, because institutions increasingly insist on the proper publication.

Practical tips

Use a genuine lawyer to prepare your deed poll, and keep every document consistent in spelling and detail. Obtain multiple certified copies of the gazette so you can update several institutions at once, and tackle your records methodically, starting with your NIN and primary identity documents. Confirm current fees with each office directly and insist on receipts. Remember that some professional bodies impose their own name-change rules, so check those separately. Finally, this is general civic information rather than legal advice, so consult a lawyer for guidance on your specific circumstances.

SabiGuide is an independent guide and is not affiliated with any government agency. Fees, links and steps can change — always confirm on the official portal before you act. This is general information, not legal or financial advice.